METRO VANCOUVER — Medical officials say there's no need for further concern after a Surrey girl died over the weekend due to a rare strain of meningitis.

Parents at Sullivan Elementary in Surrey were issued letters on Monday, notifying them of student Sophie Haine's sudden death the preceding weekend. Sophie, 5, was in kindergarten.

"The tragic news of such a premature death is always difficult to accept," wrote principal Kelly Johnston.

"Our support and sympathy are extended to Sophie's family at this time."

Fraser Health was then notified of the death and the health authority says it will now monitor the situation.

However, medical health officer Helena Swinkels said there is no need for further public health measures, as the strain was an uncommon variety and not the type that is easily passed from one individual to another.

"I would like to reassure you that this is not meningococcal meningitis and that NO public health measures need to be taken to prevent illness amongst anyone at the school," Swinkels wrote in an accompanying letter also issued to parents.

"We do not anticipate there will be any further cases and will keep in close contact with the school health officer to monitor the situation."

Swinkels cautioned anyone who does begin to show symptoms of meningitis to seek immediate medical attention.

Those symptoms include fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, stiffness and a general feeling of being unwell. In children, the symptoms may appear as a change in behaviour, such as sleepiness, irritability, or excessive crying.

On Monday, the first of several vaccination clinics for meningitis B were offered to students at Princeton University in New Jersey.

Since March of this year, there have been eight cases of the meningococcal disease university students and a student visitor recorded at the Ivy-League university. That spurred a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all Princeton students living in dormitories and annexes receive the vaccination.

"I am really concerned about the safety of everyone in this community," said sophomore Audrey Berdahl-Baldwin, one of 1,959 students vaccinated on the first day of clinics. "I was happy the university gave such thoughtful consideration to making this vaccine available."

In B.C., children are given meningococcal C conjugate vaccinations at two and 12 months of age, with an additional booster in Grade 6, and is provided for free as part of routine childhood immunizations.

The meningococcal quadrivalent vaccination, given to those with medical conditions that put them at higher risk of infection, protects against meningococcal bacteria types A, C, Y, and W-135, and is not given as a part of childhood immunizations.

Parents at Sullivan Elementary who have questions can contact the Newton Health Unit at 604-592-2000 or Healthlink BC at 811 for more information.

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